The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-08-11
rFor THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER.

Having so far recovered as to be
| able to make some observations In re-
gard to farming in this community, l
am fully confirmed as to the truth OF
the saying that thousands OF hands
want acres while thousands OF acres
want hands. One of the great mis-
takes of the farmers of North Carolina
is keeping inferior stock, when all
must admit that it costs as much to
keep an inferior horse Or COW, often
more than a good one, and we see
many able bodied men commencing
late in the spring for the preparation
of their crops, with a little wind
gauled-bob. tailed pony or a poor OK
and poorer pillow, under the tenant
system the land had skinned the
tenant and the tenant skinned the
land, scratching ove thousands OF
acres, and those acres in many cases
do not produce enough to pay the
blacksmith's bill. Now what is the
cause Of this improvident farming?
Emphatically the lack of education.
" The fathers eat sour grapes and the
children's teeth are set on edge"
Many of our poor farmers keep from
three to six or more poor COWS through
the winter and give them all about
enough of substantial food for n
COW, and then shelter them right out
in the middle of the road during the
winter and in the spring they are so
hide bound that they are unable to
give down their milk, if they had any
to give down, and we hear the danes
complaining of poor milk and butter.
Of course there are many exceptions.
I know that North Carolina has some
of good cattle as any State in the
Union, but this is the exception to the
rule. We also have some first-class
farmers, but this is also the exception.
I am satisfied that n good milch
COW at a time is enough for any fam
lily in this section of the country, if
she but have proper care, plenty of
rich food, good shelter and dry bed !;
and the milk is far superior in quality
to that MIXED from so many. After
trying the Jersey and the Devonshire,
I prefer the Devon to the Jersey, for
I find her milk equally as rich in but
ter, and the quality much greater.
Yet I am happy to say that the
people Of North Carolina are begin
/ ming to be aroused from this state Of
careless Indifference to a sense of duty
to themselves and to their children,
and with the increased energy awak-
ened BY The PROGRESSIVE FARMER,
agricultural bureau, farmers clubs
and other agencies, 1 believe that she
is yet destined to become one of the
finest States in the Union. Gentlemen,
let emigration cases remain here and
go to work, Teach the commonality
of the people their own best interest
by holding out to them some induce
ment to remain in old North Carolina.
Fathers teach yours boys at your
freside, and teach them when to pillow
and hoe, and teach them how to do it.
Mothers, train those daughters of
yours how to perform domestic duties,
how to sweep, cook and keep their
rooms in order and then how to SOW
and make. their own dresses and patch
the boys clothes and bring in the
ornamental with these, and you are
on the road to education. I despise
assumed aristocracy.
While travelling in North Carolina
/ have g girls (often called ladies,)
sitting back on old worn out lounges,
dressed in fine clothes, shrinking of
merchants ink, while their poor old
mothers were wasting away over the
wash-tub and cook-stove (if they had
any in order to bring them up as
they style, it ladies. This reminds me
of the patch on both knees and gloves
on. Now [ love to see a young lady
who performs we'll on the organ and
piano, but this is only the superficial
part of an education, and of itself
amounts to nothing.
To close, / will say we must have
educated labor, educated muscle,
| educated brain, educated heart, edu-
Gated will. Develop the physical man,
the spiritual man. Never despise labor,
put in n hour each day, for mental
culture, W q penny every week for
missions make use Of the means that
God has given you, and you will be
happy. M.
Randleman, N. c., July 2 81.
K S
r. There has never been a time since